Fire damages home south of Madras; no injuries

Caused believed to be electrical issue

MADRAS, Ore. - Jefferson County firefighters quickly knocked down a fire that damaged the kitchen of a home along Highway 97 south of Madras Sunday morning, officials said.

Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 crews were called out around 10:15 a.m. to a fire in the single-story home in the 4800 block of Southwest Highway 97, Captain Kasey Skaar said. Several motorists on the passing highway called to report the blaze, he said.

The first fire unit arrived to find smoke and fire coming from the main entrance to the home, Skaar said, adding that the residents were not home and there were no injuries. The smoke alarms were sounding, he said, and the fire could have been burning for some time.

Two more units quickly arrived and one entered the home and quickly knocked down the fire, confining it to the kitchen, while the other unit worked from the roof.

Skaar said crews were on scene for about three hours, completing salvage and overhaul of the burned area. A total of three engines and a command vehicle were dispatched, with eight volunteer firefighters and three staff on scene.

No mutual aid from other departments was needed, he said, but Jefferson County EMS medics were standing by on scene.

The fire probably was caused by an electrical problem, the fire captain said, adding that the exact cause remained under investigation. He did not have a damage estimate.

The residents declined Red Cross assistance, as they were going to stay with family members, Skaar said

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